Left lane squatters

[Squarebutt]

And how about the folks that zoom down the ramp and expect you to move over instantly so they can have your spot? I see it more here in the northeast. They get peeved when I look straight ahead and ignore them.

 

[Stubborn Dutchman]

Signs are only effective if people read them (and heed them)!!

I must have missed that sign once. Back in 1965 I was driving on the thruway
in upstate N.Y. on my way to Basic Submarine School at New London. Anyway, about 2:00 a.m. I passed a car. The road was mostly deserted that late and I was a little slow moving back over into the right hand lane. Just my luck, a state trooper pulled me over and gave me a ticket for "failure to keep right". I was hoping the Navy uniform would have got me off but he wasn't about to give me a break. At least he was polite about it.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

When you pass the slower driver on the right, pull in front of the vehicle, slow down and use that moment to clean your windshield. This also works for tailgaters.

In Louisiana, driving in the right lane is required except to pass in the left. There is an exception in congested areas like large cities.

I have encountered situations where while in the left lane, there was no room to move over to the right lane. I will move to the right when I am no longer passing traffic on the right.

 

[hoosierone]

Remember when you are using the right lane to pass a mindless putz be careful that said putz doesn't decide just then to move over. I've seen it.

Also, IMO hitting your windshield washers is an act of aggression. I've been well behind people who are putzing along, waiting to get a chance to pass them and they give me the washer treatment. Good way to get a road rage incident going if you do it to someone not as forgiving as me.

 

[Smoke]

I'm sorry but what exactly does hitting your windshield washers do to affect the guy behind you?

I mean I get it he gets a spritz but if something that miniscule causes him to rage out on you he was going to anyway

 

[Smithpride]

Get the heck out of the left lane unless passing. Also, don't forget that some going fast may be off-duty or undercover law enforcement responding to a situation. There are a lot of those in Texas.
Also, someone may be having a true emergency. Where we live there is no ambulance service, so my wife or I's first choice is to scoop and go 25 miles to the nearest hospital if possible. You can dang bet we'll be speeding to get there.

 

[BearBio]

And how about the folks that zoom down the ramp and expect you to move over instantly so they can have your spot? I see it more here in the northeast. They get peeved when I look straight ahead and ignore them.

Any major city: L.A., Seattle, Spokane, etc.

 

[the ringo kid]

This has been something that has thoroughly pissed me off for the last 50 years or so. I have often fantasized about keeping a box of ball bearings on the seat next to me, and then when I finally get past the slow left lane driver, casually dropping the bearings out the window. I've never done it but I dream about how nice it would feel as I would watch their windshields shatter and them pulling off the road in disbelief.

BBs are cheaper and more plentiful and--you cant get much of a fingerprint off them to do any investigation any good. Anyway, they can cause more minor but most irritating damages too.

 

[the ringo kid]

I'm sorry but what exactly does hitting your windshield washers do to affect the guy behind you?

I mean I get it he gets a spritz but if something that miniscule causes him to rage out on you he was going to anyway

I dont know if this is what the Op means but--the car behind you will get some residue from the windshiels washer liquid..

 

[RobertJ.]

As an ex- driver ed. instructor, I've followed this thread with some amusement.

I've concluded that the speed limit is the most widely ignored law in this country. I've seen fuzzbuster discussions right here on this forum. Now what kind of a law abiding citizens need one of those? How many participating in this discussion regularly drive faster that the posted limit?

If everyone followed the speed limit, the conflict would almost end. But that's not likely, now is it?

 

[NYlakesider]

As an ex- driver ed. instructor, I've followed this thread with some amusement.

I've concluded that the speed limit is the most widely ignored law in this country. I've seen fuzzbuster discussions right here on this forum. Now what kind of a law abiding citizens need one of those? How many participating in this discussion regularly drive faster that the posted limit?

If everyone followed the speed limit, the conflict would almost end. But that's not likely, now is it?

As a long time driver and that also includes years of large truck driving, the problem for the most part is not the speed limit it is the lack of ability of the average driver that is tuned loose to drive after passing the extremely simple drivers test. Again your wrong IMNSHO the law that is violated more than any other is the person talking/texting on their cell phone.

You said ex instructor well that explains the fuzz buster comment. The "fuzz buster" was state of the art the late 60s and early 70s. They have much better equipment available today just like the road patrol LEOs do. I have not heard that term in years/decades! Thanks for the laugh!

 

[Doug M.]

A few observations:

1. In Washington, obstructing the left lane is cause for a ticket, regardless of your speed.
2. In most states, passing on the right is legal, as long as there is a lane. Using the shoulder (i.e. no lane) is illegal.
3. In Washington, flashing your lights is considered "aggressive driving" and cause for a road rage ticket.

6. Just yesterday, our Admin Assistant told me she saw 3 cars upside down or on their side on Monday in the Pass (coming back from Seattle). All people heading towards the Coast. Most likely "Westies" driving too fast. Happens every Sunday in the winter when the skiers come over.

*
The "keep right except to pass" law is part of the model traffic code and it is very likely it applies in most states, maybe all or so close to all it does not matter. Signs are not needed.

WSP's policy does not say exactly that. They write the ticket under RCW 46.61.525 "Negligent Driving second degree" RCW 46.61.525: Negligent driving ? Second degree., and their policy Aggressive Driving/Road Rage - Washington State Patrol actually says that among the factors that may justify the ticket: "Flashing headlights excessively at oncoming traffic". Not only is that darned iffy as an indicia of "road rage" or aggressive driving (the top levels of WSP have no respect for the law whatsoever, so being wrong on this is no shock), there is nothing in their policy about flashing them at the filth who are blocking the left lane. Considering that everyone I know flashes to remind (oncoming) people to address the high beams they forgot to dim, including cops, it has to be pretty flagrant. Further, that headlight use violation (high beams on too close to oncoming traffic) is a good stop because it is a high percentage indicator of impaired driving, so if I had someone so HUA that they didn't address it promptly, I stopped them if I was able to.

I hate these idiots, but I have resolved not to get into these passive-aggressive urinating contests because of the type of stuff Smoke described. If it is bad enough, I call LE and report them as an erratic driver. I have 3 districts of WSP in my phone to make direct calls because calling 911 for something like that is clownshoes and I have had trouble with bad transfers from 911 when I do that.

West siders and stupid stunts are a constant problem here. Almost every really bad sober driver I dealt with was from the foreign side of MP 52. Putting aside that what is called "plowing" or "a plow" here is a bad joke, these are places where the weather and road are so transitional that there can be some pretty bad experiences. The pass isn't really that bad, and I never heard of chains on trucks until I came out here. That crud causes more problems than the weather, and good plowing would do more than silly regs like that.

It's similar to how they get out in the middle of nowhere and place themselves at risk, so SAR has to deal with them. It costs a staggering amount and is counter-evolutionary. I wish we could dismantle SAR and let the problems resolve themselves. The wild animals need more food anyway, and it is generally an NHI situation.

 

[b_san]

The "keep right except to pass" law is part of the model traffic code and it is very likely it applies in most states, maybe all or so close to all it does not matter. Signs are not needed.

In most states (all the ones I've looked at so far anyway) it's expressly permitted to pass on the right on multi-lane roads.

Sample language(NJ): Most passing should be on the left. Passing on the right is allowed only on roads with more than one lane going in the same direction, if vehicles on the roadway are moving in two or more substantially continuous lines or when the motorist ahead is making a left turn and there is room to pass. Never pass on the right shoulder of the road. This is against the law.(N.J.S.A.39:4-85)

All of the other states I've looked at have similar language.

 

[Doug M.]

Yup. But a different issue. Also part of the MTC as I recall.

 

[hoosierone]

Speed limits seem to me to be designed for 85 year old ladies driving a model A Ford.

 

[b_san]

Yup. But a different issue. Also part of the MTC as I recall.

Right, gotcha, I was reading your response to the post you quoted as a rebuttal to his 2nd point. Sorry bout that.

 

[loknload]

Got behind them today while going to Annapolis to pickup my granddaughter! Had to watch my tongue on the way home!
These idiots just don't get it do they?

 

[Doug M.]

^ If she is a middie, I'll bet she has heard far worse than most people can understand, especially if there are any Marines in her vicinity.

 

[ironhead7544]

A lot of people here need to switch to decafe.

For many years I drove 200 to 450 miles a day doing service work. If there are cars in the right lane you may not be able to get over right away. You may also want to make a left in traffic and cant get over because you wont be let back into the left lane by traffic.

There are reasons you may want to stay in the left lane. In the rain, water tends to build up over the right lane which can cause your vehicle to hydroplane, very dangerous.

Due to more traffic, the right lane can be very bumpy.

You will notice that most dead deer you see will be on the right side of the road. There are a lot of deer around here. It has been my experience that being in the left lane gives you more time to see the deer and avoid it. If they come from the left you can see them sooner and being in the left lane gives you more time when they come from the right.

It is also law here that you have to use the right lane except when passing. I always watch to the rear and get over if possible.

There are a lot more dangerous things a driver can do than staying in the left lane. The idea is to get home in one piece.

Some commercial vehicles have electronic ratfinks on them. They send in info on speeding, rapid stops, rapid acceleration and turning too quickly. I drove a truck with this thing on it. It will cause you to do things that may be dangerous. I dont think they should be allowed. I felt like a road hazard. It would send in if you were going 4 MPH over the limit. Going the speed limit is not very popular here. Everyone goes at least 10 MPH over. I guess I was lucky to survive.

 

[loknload]

If you are running in the passing lane doing the speed limit or less you don't belong there!
If you are running in the passing lane and keeping up with the car in the driving lane, you don't belong there!
If you are in the passing lane and hugging my left rear quarter, you don't belong there and sooner or later you might just get cut off not that I want to just because I can't see you!

Had a maroon running the passing lane in a "yellow and black" camaro, I guess he thought he was Bumble Bee from the Transformers?
Anyway he was running the passing lane at speed limit or below with a line of cars behind him. Every time someone got a chance to pass on the right he would speed up and run them into the next lane obstacle to stop them from passing!
That was until I came along and was tired of driving in the funeral procession (not really but that's what it looked like)
I got the chance and cranked up the Hemi a bit and started the pass in the right, when bozo boy saw me along side he started to rev it up, well I dumped the Hemi and left him sitting! I guess his "bumble bee" was only. 6 cylinder!
Made it safely around all other vehicles and got in my comfort zone and cruising speed. I do not like driving in highway clusters!
Seems like the bozo in the camaro tried catching me for awhile but traffic would not let him around?
I sure do love my Chrysler Hemi !

 

[ChuckS1]

Left lane squatters are also kin to people who stop in merge lanes.

 

[finesse_r]

As an ex- driver ed. instructor, I've followed this thread with some amusement.

I've concluded that the speed limit is the most widely ignored law in this country. I've seen fuzzbuster discussions right here on this forum. Now what kind of a law abiding citizens need one of those? How many participating in this discussion regularly drive faster that the posted limit?

If everyone followed the speed limit, the conflict would almost end. But that's not likely, now is it?

If God wanted every one to dive no faster than 55 he would never have allowed GM to develop such fine V-8 engines or to sell those high horse power cars and trucks. I mean a big V-8 will stove up and go bad if you don't open up those carburetors and blow it out every so often. Can you imagine the damage it would do to a GTO or Z-28 or Corvette, to drive them the speed limit all the time?

I have never owned a Fuzz buster, but I would like to have one now that you suggest it. Thanks for the idea. If I get caught using a Fuzz buster can I list you as a co-conspirator?

 

[finesse_r]

If you are running in the passing lane doing the speed limit or less you don't belong there!
If you are running in the passing lane and keeping up with the car in the driving lane, you don't belong there!
If you are in the passing lane and hugging my left rear quarter, you don't belong there and sooner or later you might just get cut off not that I want to just because I can't see you!

Had a maroon running the passing lane in a "yellow and black" camaro, I guess he thought he was Bumble Bee from the Transformers?
Anyway he was running the passing lane at speed limit or below with a line of cars behind him. Every time someone got a chance to pass on the right he would speed up and run them into the next lane obstacle to stop them from passing!
That was until I came along and was tired of driving in the funeral procession (not really but that's what it looked like)
I got the chance and cranked up the Hemi a bit and started the pass in the right, when bozo boy saw me along side he started to rev it up, well I dumped the Hemi and left him sitting! I guess his "bumble bee" was only. 6 cylinder!
Made it safely around all other vehicles and got in my comfort zone and cruising speed. I do not like driving in highway clusters!
Seems like the bozo in the camaro tried catching me for awhile but traffic would not let him around?
I sure do love my Chrysler Hemi !

How many gallons to the mile do you get with that thing?

 

[loknload]

On the highway 18 - 24 when it's in ECO mode, 4 cylinders drop out until you punch it. Of course it gets less around town but really isn't that bad. It's in a Chrysler 300 and I have no regrets in its purchase.

 

[mtgianni]

State "keep right" laws
Per this url only 4 States have laws for right lane except to pass. I cross the continental divide on my commute. Speed limit is 25 for trucks over 1 ton for cars 75. I regularly drive 75 and stay in the left lane unless someone is approaching me. I see and deal with the fools that will not pas a semi at over 40 mph then speed up as soon as they are in front and the drivers who want their truck to pass a semi because they are going 27 and the fool in front is only going 25. I cannot understand the mentality that if large semi's are dangerous i must stay next to them as long as possible. On that section of I-90 the left lane is banked to the center the right lane is occasionally reverse banked. Go around a curve @ 75 and finding a truck blocking things @ 25 mph and you had better know your road and vehicle.

 

[tomf52]

You will really love this!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZhdvl_P1Zc
__________________
Nationality: Confederate


That was Rt 80 in Morris County NJ. Drove that stretch everyday for 30 years commuting!